1) Attain federal clean air standards with full implementation of the Mobile Source Plan of the 2016 AQMP:
Diesel emissions are the most pressing challenge to air quality in Southern California by far. Diesel emissions are a toxic air contaminant, second only to smoking as a cause for cancer. Disadvantaged communities near freeways are especially burdened. The 2016 AQMP relies on incentives to accelerate deployment of zero- and near-zero-emission heavy-duty trucks and equipment at a cost of over $1 billion/year. This scale of effort can only be funded by a regional ballot measure.
2) Address climate change head-on:
California is leading the way in the fight to conquer climate change. Our progress in replacing fossil fuel power with clean renewables has been so great that our #1 priority now should be reducing GHGs from the transportation sector, still the biggest source of GHGs. The economies of scale for manufacturers could yield significantly reduced costs for car buyers around the world—and make a big difference in the effort to conquer climate change. We plan to urge inclusion of very significant funds to accelerate deployment of zero-emission light- and medium-duty vehicles and charging facilities.
3) Modernize and electrify Metrolink, Southern California’s regional commuter rail system:
Modernizing our 530-mile, 5-county regional commuter rail system is a golden opportunity to create high-capacity, high-efficiency, higher-speed, zero-emission electric regional transit linking the region’s core communities. Double-tracking and modernizing the system and providing the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (which operates Metrolink) with funding for reliable, frequent and more affordable service will build ridership and address climate change head on.
4) County transportation commission local return program:
We should include significant funds for investments in clean local transit systems and the expansion of active transportation in each of the Air District's 4 counties. The measure would fund each county transportation commission and respect the authority of each to establish their own transit project priorities, specifically referencing each county’s Long Range Transportation Plan.
IN MORE DETAIL:
Attain federal clean air standards with full implementation of the Mobile Source Plan of the 2016 AQMP:
Diesel emissions are by far the most pressing challenge to air quality in Southern California. Diesel emissions are a toxic air contaminant, second only to smoking as a cause for cancer. Disadvantaged communities near freeways are especially burdened. The 2016 AQMP relies upon incentive strategies to accelerate deployment of zero-emission and near-zero-emission heavy-duty trucks and equipment; estimated costs exceed more than $1 billion/year. This scale of effort can only be funded by a regional ballot measure. If successful it will help Governor Newsom meet his goal of dumping diesel in California by 2030
Address climate change head-on:
California is leading the way in the fight to conquer climate change. It’s not just our politics; it’s our history of leadership on developing technologies and programs to clean our air that makes our leadership so important. Our progress in replacing fossil fuel power with clean renewables has been so great that our #1 priority should be reducing GHGs from the transportation sector, which is still the biggest source of GHGs: 50% of GHGs from transportation comes from light-duty cars, SUVs and pickups, and 30% comes from diesel trucks and off-road vehicles. By advancing deployment of clean trucks, implementing the 2016 AQMP will help reduce GHGs significantly. If the proposed measure also invests significantly in light-duty ZEVs it really will help ensure that we meet Gov. Brown’s goal of 5 million ZEVs by 2030, and California will meet its GHG reduction goal. The economies of scale that could result for manufacturers could yield significantly reduced costs for car buyers around the world—and that could make a big difference for the effort to conquer climate change. For this reason we plan to urge inclusion of very significant funds to accelerate deployment of zero-emission light- and medium-duty vehicles and charging facilities.
Modernize and electrify Metrolink, Southern California’s regional commuter rail system:
Modernizing our 530-mile, five-county regional commuter rail system presents a golden opportunity to create high-capacity, high-efficiency, higher-speed, zero-emission electric regional transit service to link the region’s core communities. By double-tracking and modernizing the system and providing the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (which operates the Metrolink system) with a dedicated budget for operations and maintenance, we can provide for commuter transit service that is reliable, frequent and more affordable, builds ridership significantly, and addresses climate change head on. It could link core communities with Ontario Airport and airports in other Southern California counties, providing economic development, jobs, and tourism opportunities to the region—all in time for the 2028 Olympics. Such a system should be designed to be compatible with high speed rail should it reach Southern California.
County transportation commission local return program:
We should include significant funds for investments in clean local transit systems and service and the expansion of active transportation in each of the four counties in the air district. The measure would provide funds directly to each county transportation commission and respect the authority of each to establish their own transit project priorities, specifically referencing each county’s Long Range Transportation Plan.